Out of the Abyss - 16mm experimental film (trailer) - 2023
Apparent aimless walking
Looking for the next place to crash
The city swirls as the mind lingers
The invisible people are vestiges of the living
Looking for the next place to crash
The city swirls as the mind lingers
The invisible people are vestiges of the living
Consuming the city noises
As the next stop feels like home
The heart beats with the feet
The city grows, change comes
Same places but different takes
As the next stop feels like home
The heart beats with the feet
The city grows, change comes
Same places but different takes
by Dani Tagen
"OUT OF THE ABYSS" is a celebration of experimentation, an homage to early film making. It explores ideas of social change, gentrification, and quality of living. It intertwines past and present, capturing the essence of continual change.
Crafted with the backing of Four Corners and the FANTHOM Development Programme, and guided by the esteemed William Raban, "OUT OF THE ABYSS" embarks on a visual odyssey inspired by the photographs of American journalist Jack London during his exploration of East London's slums in 1902 while penning his seminal work "People of the Abyss."
Shot entirely on 16mm black and white Fomapan positive film using a Bolex with a 50mm lens, "OUT OF THE ABYSS" boasts an array of unique elements such as in-camera editing, triple exposure, time-lapse sequences, slow-motion shots, and deliberately out-of-focus imagery. It opens with a poem written and declaimed by the artist. The soundtrack: experimental sound recordings of the artist’s heartbeat and breath using an iPhone4.
"OUT OF THE ABYSS" isn't just a film; it's a reflection on the complexities of life itself. Just like in life, we apparently know what we are doing but the outcome is always unpredictable.
In an era saturated with hyper-sharp and digitally altered visuals, there is a compelling invitation in returning to more traditional mediums and experimental techniques. This return offers viewers a chance to engage in a more contemplative and immersive cinematic experience.
